What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).

Pawling has the most people working from home (18%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Chester	Pawling
People
Population	4,033Highest	2,005Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-15%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	38.7±6.6Lowest about the NY average	39.8±7.2Highest about the NY average
	Pawling and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.9%±7.1Lowest NY: 20.5%	19%±5.1Highest NY: 20.5%
	Pawling and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.2%±4.6Lowest NY: 17.9%	19.4%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9%
	Pawling and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%	40.9%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±3.7Lowest NY: 7%	4.3%±2.4Highest NY: 7%
	Pawling and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,514±$28kHighest 17% above NY	$86,792±$5kLowest about the NY average
	Chester and Pawling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$330,200±$72kLowest 22% below NY	$378,600±$35kHighest 11% below NY
	Pawling and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,010±$224Highest 24% above NY	$1,416±$330Lowest 13% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,940Lowest 5% above NY	$8,166Highest 24% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.9%±20.2Lowest NY: 52.1%	47.5%±14.6Highest NY: 52.1%
	Pawling and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Lowest NY: 14%	8.8%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	50.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%	52.5%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 22 yrs newer than NY	1957Lowest 2 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 22% above NY	29 minLowest 10% below NY
Work from home	9.8%±5.7Lowest NY: 14.9%	18%±7.7Highest NY: 14.9%
	Pawling and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#108 of 484 in NY
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.